April 16, 2013

You Are Not Exempt

The unthinkable happened a few days ago, guys. It happened. You are going to laugh when I tell you what occurred, but trust me, I'll be laughing right along with you.

Okay...let me just get this out right off the bat. I completely ate it on the treadmill a few days ago. Just ate it. You know, slid off of it and everything.

I'll let that mental picture marinate for a minute....

It literally was like a comedy show, or a funny video you watch on YouTube. It was probably going in slow motion for all I know. It certainly felt like it. But really, I didn't pick up my foot enough, apparently, and my toe caught the moving belt and it went downhill from there. Luckily, I didn't have a very big audience because I went when the rec had just opened, but one girl did see and kindly asked if I was okay without laughing hysterically. Goodness knows that's what I wanted to do. But, I would've drawn more attention to myself and I certainly didn't want that. I've always been one of those people who watched those funny YouTube videos and said, "Ha, I will never be THAT person to fall off of a treadmill. How do you even do that?" Well, let me tell you my friends, it is easier than it looks. And it can happen to anyone. I was mortified, yet wanted to laugh hysterically. Sometimes you just have to love the irony. And you can laugh all you want, I'm okay with that, but it got me thinking...

Have you ever felt like you're exempt from something? I felt like I was exempt from falling off of a treadmill. Apparently not. That's why I was a swimmer (I will always be a swimmer at heart), in case you were wondering haha. But think about it. As believers, sometimes we get the mentality that we are exempt from sin. We know we sin, but we sit there and judge non-believers for their sin because they aren't saved and they won't be forgiven. We take that for granted and think we are exempt from God's wrath. That's true, to a point. If we abuse that priviledge, we are not truly believers and are subject to God's wrath. The fact is, sin is sin. God sees it the same way no matter what it is. We, as believers, sometimes think we are exempt from the forces of this world. Certainly not. Be careful in thinking something doesn't apply to you. Sometimes in sermons, we hear a message and think of someone we know is guilty of such a thing. We think the message doesn't apply to us, but we know someone who really could've used it. I've done that too, and I admit to that. Be careful in thinking you're exempt. Sometimes you think surely God wouldn't test you because you've been so faithful to Him and you've done nothing wrong. Think again. Every single one of us does multiple things wrong even on our best day. Isn't that a scary thought? It is slightly intimidating. Something I've learned throughout life and in some bible stories is that God will teach you a lesson through irony, just to bring you down a couple of levels. We tend to get self-righteous as Christians, and that does not benefit anyone. Granted, this event that occurred is a minor detail compared to some lessons learned. But, it's still a great analogy.

Just keep in the back of your mind that you are not exempt from anything in this world. You are not exempt from learning a hard lesson, you are not exempt from struggling with sin, you are not exempt from Satan's attempts to destroy your faith (although he can't do that without God's permission if you're saved). You are not exempt from constructive criticism from other believers. However, you are exempt from never having someone to turn to and exempt from never having someone to carry you when you need it the most.

And I hate to break it to you, but you are not exempt from falling off of a treadmill.

"For I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me."

-Romans 7:21-23

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."